In this program we meet Elizabeth Young, pigeon rescue expert and head of the pigeon rescue organization MickCoo (http://www.mickacoo.org), for a personal introduction to pigeons-their history, their accomplishments, their contributions to research in animal behavior/memory/learning/and how they navigate long distances-as well as their plight in the city.
For more information visit: www.RescueReport.org

Intuit Founder Scott Cook, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Ramon Cortines, and Retired Congressman Vernon Ehlers join KQED's Dave Iverson for a lively conversation on the topic of Science for Decision Making. This discussion was recorded at the Exploratorium's 34th Annual Awards Dinner on May 4, 2011.

No one puts the laws of physics to the test quite like the urban skateboarder. Join us for a closer look at the science behind the tricks of the sidewalk-shredding trade, from the basic ollie to high-flying aerial maneuvers.

The original multimedia storytelling device, puppetry dates back many thousands of years and spans cultures worldwide. Join us for a back-stage look at an artistic collaboration that brings together a composer, musicians, puppeteers, and, of course, puppets to bring a story to life.

A short video created about an iconic exhibit at the Exploratorium, Ned Kahn's Chaotic Pendulum. An apparently simple set of pendulums is given an initial twist. Intuition says that the resulting motion of this simple system should be, if not simple, at least predictable. Intuition doesn't work with this device though, and its motion is an extremely complicated, and somewhat whimsical, twisting and turning that defies the predictive powers of physics.

Every night at Fort Funston, after all the people and dogs have left for the day, the bats come out to play. Dr. Gary Fellers of the U.S. Geological Survey tells us about bat vocalizations, the audio recordings he uses to monitor their travels, and the various species of bats that frequent this Golden Gate National Park.

Tauba Auerbach talks about randomness, the unity of art and science, and the way her Geometry Playground piece uses the beauty of geometry to draw visitors into a zone of comfort with math and their own artistic capabilities.

This week's secret ingredient was triangles! Cheer on the competitors in this zany science cook-off. Teachers compete before a live audience at the Exploratorium for the revered title, "Iron Science Teacher."

Webcasts made possible through
the generosity of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, The Jim Clark
Endowment for Internet Education, the McBean Family Foundation,.and the Corporation for Educational Networks Initiatives in California (CENIC).